In this eye-opening episode of Behind the Counter: Pharmacy and Beyond, I’m joined by Bushra Effendi, Advanced Pharmacist, menopause specialist, and founder of a thriving private clinic. Together, we dive deep into the uncomfortable truth: women’s health is still being sidelined in mainstream healthcare.

From the lack of menopause training to the rise of private clinics, we unpack why pharmacists are stepping up to fill the gaps. Bushra shares her personal story, the barriers she’s faced, and her advice for pharmacists wanting to make a bigger impact. Whether you’re thinking about offering private services or wish to understand the future of pharmacy, this conversation will leave you fired up and inspired.

👉 Don’t forget to follow @_BTCPodcast on all platforms.

🎧 Listen now. Share it forward. The change starts here.

#PharmacyBusiness #WomensHealth #MenopauseCare #IndependentPharmacy #PharmacyPodcast

In this candid and compelling episode of Behind the Counter: Pharmacy and Beyond, host Solomon Abuede sits down with Tohidul Islam, pharmacist, whistleblower, and founder of The Pharmacist Cooperative (TPC), to discuss the hidden challenges and opportunities facing both locum pharmacists and pharmacy owners.

From battling unfair work conditions and threats, to challenging complacency in pharmacy hiring and marketing, Tohidul delivers hard-hitting insights. We unpack:

• The tension between locum pharmacists and contractors
• Why underpaying your team could be killing your business growth
• The business cost (and return) of better pay and respect
• How pharmacies can market private services ethically and profitably

Whether you’re a pharmacy contractor, independent locum, or pharmacy graduate, this episode will challenge your assumptions and empower you to drive change.

Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube!

Got a pharmacy challenge? DM @_BTCPodcast. Your question might be next episode’s discussion starter!

#podcast #healthcareleadership #pharmacypodcast #communitypharmacy #shorts #independentpharmacy

Is pharmacy still a sustainable business in 2025? What does the new NHS contract mean for independent contractors, and how can we survive, adapt, and thrive?

In this powerful guest episode of Behind the Counter: Pharmacy and Beyond, host Solomon Abuede is joined by Ashley Cohen, a seasoned pharmacy contractor and board member of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) and Chair of Community Pharmacy West Yorkshire (CPWY). Together, they unpack the real impact of the new contract, what independent pharmacies must do to stay competitive, and the evolving role of pharmacies in UK healthcare.

Expect honest conversation, hard-won lessons, and practical insights you won’t hear anywhere else.

In this episode:

• Ashley’s journey as a multi-branch pharmacy owner
• What the new NHS contract means for independents
• How to future-proof your pharmacy business
• The growing importance of clinical services & prescribing
• Advice for new and seasoned contractors alike

This episode is a must-listen for pharmacy professionals, owners, and anyone curious about the future of the sector.

👉 Subscribe, share, and follow @_BTCPodcast on all platforms.

In Part 2 of our deep dive into The Pharmacy Numbers Game, we go beyond the NHS contract and get real about what’s actually draining your pharmacy’s profit, and how to stop it.

This episode covers the full breakdown of the silent margin killers hiding in plain sight, from unpaid deliveries to the hidden cost of NOMAD trays, under-claimed services, and rising staff costs.

Pharmacy isn’t broken, but you need to play smart. In this raw and practical episode, I share personal insights, practical fixes, and lessons learned after 14 years of pharmacy ownership.

If you’re tired of working harder and earning less… this one is for you.

🎧 Hit follow, subscribe, and share, and if you haven’t heard Part 1, go back and listen now!

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Why am I working so hard and still not seeing the money?” — this episode is for you.

In Part 1 of The Pharmacy Numbers Game, I pull back the curtain on the financial realities of being a pharmacy contractor in the UK. From Category M and clawbacks to the Drug Tariff and PPD statements, you’ll learn why understanding your numbers isn’t just helpful — it’s survival.

Using real stories, including lessons, I explain how the NHS contract works (and why it’s often misunderstood), why Average Item Value is a trap, and how to avoid building your business on false forecasts.

This is the episode I wish someone had given me in year one. If you’re serious about building a profitable pharmacy, press play — and get ready to see your business through a new lens.

📢 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and follow @_BTCPodcast on social for updates.

What if survival in pharmacy wasn’t just about chasing NHS prescriptions?

In today’s episode, I’m sharing the real story of how we moved beyond NHS dependency and built a sustainable income stream through private services, changing not only our cash flow but our entire business model.

You’ll hear the honest lessons we learned: the mindset shifts, the early mistakes, the patient success stories, and how private services reshaped the future of our pharmacy.

If you’re feeling the pressure of tighter margins, delayed payments, and growing costs, this episode will show you why private services aren’t just extra income — they can be a lifeline.

🎧 Hit follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode.💬 Connect with me on social media at @_BTCPodcast — I’d love to hear your thoughts!

What happens when doing it all starts doing you in?

In this episode of Behind the Counter: Pharmacy and Beyond, I’m sharing one of the hardest and most important lessons I’ve learned in business: letting go.

I open up about the real cost of trying to control everything, from burnout and bottlenecks to missed opportunities and strained relationships. You’ll hear how we went from micromanaging chaos to building a leadership team that helped our pharmacies thrive — and the mindset shifts it took to get there.

Whether you’re a pharmacy owner, entrepreneur, or just someone who struggles to delegate, this episode is packed with real stories, honest lessons, and practical tips on how to build a business that doesn’t revolve around you — and why that’s the best thing you can do for your growth.

🗝️ In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why trying to do everything yourself is dangerous for growth
• How to build a strong, accountable leadership team
• Why delegation isn’t abdication — it’s empowerment
• Practical steps to start letting go (without losing control)
• How I finally got my life back and scaled my business sustainably

🎧 Tune in now and discover how letting go might just be the thing that takes your business to the next level.

Scaling a pharmacy business sounds like the dream — until it starts to feel like a nightmare.

In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of what really happened when we expanded beyond our first community pharmacy. From the excitement of opening a second branch to the chaos that followed — team resignations, broken systems, profitability issues, and long weeks away from family — this is the honest story of how rapid growth nearly broke us.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

✅ The early red flags when scaling a pharmacy

✅ The challenges we didn’t see coming — and how we responded

✅ The tough lessons from acquiring two more branches in Scarborough

✅ How we regained control through systems, structure, and strategy

✅ Why investing in yourself is critical if you want your pharmacy to grow

Whether you’re an independent pharmacy owner or planning to scale your healthcare business, this episode is packed with real insight to help you avoid the pitfalls of growth and build a business that can thrive — not just survive.

💊 If you’re growing your pharmacy or thinking about it — listen to this first.

🔔 Don’t forget to follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode.

📲 Connect with us on social media: @_BTCPodcast